Simon Horsford gears up for the new series of the ITV phenomenom The Only Way
Is Essex.

The winner (remarkably) of the YouTube Audience award at the Baftas, the docu soap “Towie”- which has contributed to the inexorable rise of the new hybrid genre "constructed reality" - returns for a third season of fake tans, fur coats and nightclubs.

Its trashy appeal and the staged antics of its loud cast certainly wont appeal to all, but if nothing else take heart from the fact that it is more palatable than its posh counterpart, Made in Chelsea which also returned for a new series this week.

The series will be filmed close to transmission so details are scarce, but Creative Director Tony Wood says, "Our stars will return together with one or two new surprise packages."